In the elementary school, we are taught the most fundamental truths about the world. Two plus two equals four. The globe is circular. It has seven continents on Earth.
Simple stuff, surely? However, that last part isn’t quite as simple and dry as our first-grade teachers conditioned us to believe.
Within the United States, students learn that there seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. If you go by the standard continents comprise the vast majority of the land surface of the globe approximately 5 millions square miles (148 million square kilometers).
However, that’s not the final word on the subject. For instance when it comes to Europe students are taught that there are the 6 continents: Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia and Oceania and Europe. There’s even an Five-continent map that lists Africa, Europe, Asia, America and Oceania/Australia. (That’s the reason there five rings in the Olympic flag.) Experts believe that four is the right way to go, taking as their standard the landmasses that are naturally divided by the water instead of canals made by humans (Afro Eurasia, America, Antarctica and Australia).
As recently as the 1800s, a few people claimed that there were only two continents one of which was the Old comprising Europe, Africa and Asia as well as the New that encompassed North as well as South America.
It’s not hard to understand the reason this is more complex than it appears. As a kid you might have thought what it would be like to think of Asia or Europe as distinct continents, as they are joined in a huge area of land.
Let’s see if we can simplify.
What is it that makes a continent a A Continent?
In the past, we’ve discovered that how many contenets are there are vast landmasses that have clearly defined boundaries that are separate by oceans.
According to a paper from 2017 that was published by the journal of Geological Society Of America GSA Today, “The ‘Glossary of Geology describes a continent to be “one of the largest landmasses on the planet comprising continental shelves and dry land.’ The general consensus is that continents share the characteristics listed below: (1) high elevation relative to areas that are floored by oceanic crust (2) the broad spectrum of metamorphic, siliceous, or sedimentary rocks (3) the thickness of their crusts and a lower structural seismicity than oceanic crustal regions and (4) established boundaries over a vast enough area that it is considered to be to be a continent instead of a microcontinent or a continental fragment… According to we’ve seen, this most important aspect — what’ major an area of continental crust needs to be in order to qualify as” a how many contenets are there” — is rarely considered.”
“Nothing is really determining the continent of a given country, other than the historical norm,” says Dan Montello who is a geography professor of the University of California, Santa Barbara via email. “Certain elements determine whether a particular landmass is more or more likely to be considered continental at different points in the past, by various people, yet there is no way to define continentality in a strict or non-arbitrary way.”
how many contenets are there?
For instance, consider the vast territory that is Russia, 6.6 million square miles (17 million square kilometers). What is the reason it is part of Europe instead of Asia? “The Ural Mountains are taken to delineate Asia and Europe however, it is only because Russians were keen for their metropolis of Moscow in Russia to remain European and the Urals were an ideal indicator for this arbitrary decision,” says Montello.
“Continents constitute (mostly) geographically connected clusters of landmasses that are larger than countries , but smaller than hemispheres. Of course, they do not necessarily belong to a single Earth hemispheres (and consequently, they cannot be defined in terms of longitude or latitude).”
What is the role of plate tectonics? If some landmasses are bound by one of those huge shifting hulks, can we be sure to declare it a continent? Montello says no.
“Plate tectonics” has absolutely nothing to directly relate to it in the past and, if it is not the case. It will not be a foundational concept for continental boundaries today. Nearly every continent has parts of several plates, and continent boundaries are not and never have been determined by plate boundaries.”
This is also true for the climate. The fact is that continents are home to several climates, as demonstrated by the Alaskan Arctic chill in comparison the humid temperatures of Florida and they’re both part North America. Continental shelves and mountain ranges aren’t very helpful either according to him. Coastline isn’t useful.
How do you feel about cultural links or political connections?
“Neither ethnicity or race, culture or politics have ever defined continents. Unless it was through conventional theories that were mostly mythological. Such as the outdated and false notions about the connection between continents and races” he writes. “Politically, Hawaii is part of the U.S. but is in Oceania instead of North America; Greenland is under the control of Denmark (for currently). However it is considered to be part in that North American continent.”
In the end, it could come to who – and at what time – you want to know.
He admits that in the present most geographers would go to list seven continents. Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. However, he’s sure that some would mix Asia as well as Europe into Eurasia or define Oceania in different ways or even combine North as well as South America into the Americas.
“There no such thing as a “‘czar’, ‘CEO’ of the continents or other authority that is supreme. Therefore it’s pretentious for any person to claim they are the sole authority to answer this question,” says Montello.
Don’t fret, even if you’re not able to handle this kind of definition, it’s changing. In fact, the continents are shifting at the pace of around one centimeter (2.5 centimeters) each year.
Are there seven or five planets on the earth?
It is contingent the location you reside in. The U.S., students are taught that there seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica. Europe is taught a six-continent model that includes Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania and Europe. In different parts around the globe, pupils learn the model of five continents, which includes Africa, Europe, Asia, America and Oceania/Australia.
Are Asia greater than Africa?
Asia is the biggest continent that extends all the way from the east of the Mediterranean Sea. To the western Pacific Ocean While Africa stands as the second largest.
What is the number of continents in 2020?
As we have mentioned there are a variety of opinions regarding how many continents are that exist in the world. Within the U.S., it is taught that there are seven continents. In Europe students learn that they have six. There’s also a five-continent model. Lastly, certain experts believe the world is only comprised of four continents around the globe. In the end, there is no consensus on this issue.
What are the three continents that comprise America?
The model of five continents lists Africa, Europe, Asia, America and Oceania/Australia. As the five continents that make up the world. The model also encompasses North America, South America and Antarctica as part of America.
Are you sure? Russia an integral part of Europe or is it part of Asia?
The Russian Federation has territory in both Asia as well as Europe. But, because of its historical, cultural and political connections which are a part of its history, it is usually thought of as a European country , rather as being an Asian one. how many contenets are there,
